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Mike Allred began his career as a radio host on KYES AM 950 (KY95) in Roseburg, Oregon. He later became a television reporter in Europe, and started drawing comics in 1989 with the 104-page graphic novelDead Air (Slave Labor Graphics). The story loosely followed his stint in radio as a sidebar to the true focus of the novel, the effects of post-nuclear war over a small Oregon town. He followed this up with his similarly titled works Graphique Musique (1990) and Grafik Muzik (Caliber Comics 1990-1991), in which he set out the style that he was to become known for with his most famous character, Madman.[1]

Allred appeared as himself in the 1997 feature film Chasing Amy as part of the opening scene at a comic book convention, signing copies of his comic Madman. He also provides the artwork for the fictional comic book Bluntman and Chronic.

Allred's retro-styled artwork is a frequent nominee for comics awards such as the Harveys, the Eisners, and the Eagles. He received a 2011 AML Award in the category of "Special Award in Graphical Narrative" for a lifetime of comic art.[15] His wife, Laura, frequently works as his colorist.[16][17]

^Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "2000s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 306. ISBN978-0756641238. X-Force, an X-Men spinoff, received a makeover in July [2001] thanks to writer Peter Milligan and artist Mike Allred. A mixture of dark comedy and underground heroics, X-Force received critical acclaim, but a mixed reaction from fans.

^Manning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 313: "The further adventures of Peter Milligan and Mike Allred's version of X-Force now received a name - X-Statix."